Stephen F. Austin to Jose Antonio Saucedo, 08-28-1826

Summary: Asking approval of a plan formulated by a local convention for maintaining a standing militia force on frontier.

Through my communication of the 14th Instant, I informed your
Lordship that I had called a meeting of the people, to agree upon
some system of defence for this section, until the Government can
adopt measures for the protection of the whole frontier of Texas.
The board assembled on the 21st Instant, and, after due deliberation,
we agreed upon the following articles, which are to receive the
approbation of your Lordship before they are carried into effect.

Third: Those who have half a league and upwards, and are not
actual residents of this Jurisdiction, shall enter said classes and be
counted at the call of one man for each half league, up to two leagues;
above which quantity, they shall come within the provisions of the
following article. In case said persons should be absent and should
fail to supply a man in their place, they shall be considered as
responsible for the ordinary rate of the hire of a substitute, which amount
shall be collected by the civil authorities and be paid into the
Treasury of this Department.

The object of the plan is to keep twenty or thirty mounted men
continually on the frontier as spies; as well for the preventing of
the incursions of small parties of Indians, as to give timely notice
should they come in force to make a formal attack.

The intention of the several articles is, to compel every one to
contribute his share in the common defence in proportion to the interest
he has in the Country.

Some persons who have received and own lands here, have gone
to Nacogdoches in consequence of the Indian difficulties, thus hoping
to avoid being compelled to furnish their proportion towards the
defence of this Jurisdiction, alleging that the laws governing the
National Militia only require their personal service in the district
in which they reside, and that while they live at Nacogdoches they
are bound to do militia service there, and, that, therefore, they
cannot be compelled to serve in this Jurisdiction, although all of their
property is here; adding, furthermore, the colonization law
exempting the Colonists from taxes for some years, no taxes can be levied
on the property they leave here, and that to compel them to serve
in this manner amounts to a tax. Those who have more than two
leagues of land say also, that the law on Militia makes it obligatory
on them to be in readiness to serve personally, but that they cannot
be compelled to serve two, three or five terms more than any other
persons on account of the greater interest they may have in the
country alleging that it would be a tax imposed upon them in
opposition to the colonization law.

I anticipate the most favorable results from this plan if there is
no impediment thrown in the way of its execution; and I pray your
Lordship to communicate to me such doubts as you may feel
respecting its realization. If you approve it I wish you would send me
a formal approbation, with such corrections and additions as you
may deem necessary, that I may publish and circulate it for the
information of all concerned.